strongside | [Video]

Another world, is it?

[ The feed comes on to show a young woman's face on the screen, looking at the Gear with an idle sort of wonder. In her other hand is a common, and familiar, handbook, one which she quickly glances back to as soon as the Gear is turned on. Seems like someone is trying to make sense of all this... technical jargon. But it's somehow able to make sense. Somehow.

After several moments of silence, she snaps the handbook closed with a sigh. She brings her attention back to the Gear. ]

Is there even a point to being "the best"? [ Does it involve you going back home? ] The book doesn't mention titans, but how much is this book not telling me?

[ Skeptical? Just a bit for all that the dubiousness shows on her impassive face. ]

I need to find my friends. If anyone knows a boy named Armin-- [ Pause. No, there's too many to list. She glances down to her arm and lifts it up to show the insignia of two swords crossing over a shield. ] If anyone has seen anyone with this jacket and symbol, please inform me immediately.

As for where to go... [ She trails off. She has a journey, but no destination. And the fact that she's alo-- a small roaring sound from outside the screen lifts up her head. ]

... Right. I need to find berries, too. [ I need a distraction. ]

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[Hikari had no idea what a 'titan' was, but she could tell that whatever it was probably wasn't good. But well, she might as well get to answering the questions, even if she didn't have any positive answers.]

I... haven't seen that symbol before. But I'll be sure to let you know if I do.

And well... there's really no reason to be the best unless that's something you like to aim for. A lot of people thought that it'd get home at first if they got all of the badges, but that's been proven wrong a lot of times over by now.

[ Hikari gets a nod of gratefulness at her offer to help. She worries for her comrades and the state of things back in her world, but more and more, she's starting to settle down... well, for all that it manages to show on her face, though. The frown does lessen. ]

It's something to accomplish while I'm here. [ Small sigh. ] And it affords better protection if my team is stronger.

[Hikari smiles at that.]

Yeah. That's true. For both things. The pokémon get a lot stronger the further you go into Johto, so to go to other cities you're going to need to get your team to be stronger anyway.

Of course, strength isn't everything. You also need to think about what types of pokémon you add to your team too, since every type has weaknesses to others.

The guide mentioned that term, and I received a more in-depth information on them. Brute force is one thing, but strategy can be more effective.

[ Nods again. She'd know; Armin was practically an embodiment of showing how strategy and careful planning can win the day. She'll have to channel more of his way of thinking, along with Eren's tenacious spirit, to get far in this world.

By herself. ]

Yeah. A good strategy can help against opponents that are a lot stronger. And eventually your pokémon will get as strong as they possibly can too. Once that happens and two teams of equal strength are fighting against each other, the strategy is going to make the difference.

Not that different from where I come from.

[ She turns to look down at her Axew for a moment before regarding the other girl on the screen. ]

Will he really listen to me?

Yeah. He really will.

[ She pauses for a moment, before letting out a giggle. ]

Well, for the most part, anyway. Mine was kinda... a lot more eager for fights than I was when I first started out.

I'm used to fighting. [ Pause. Right. She remembers being told that's against the "rules" of this world. She gives a slight frown at that. ]

But I'll have to rely on him for a while. [ So the relationship isn't completely one-sided. ]

I was used to being in battles too. But that didn't mean that I liked them. It was even a bit similar to how the situation with the pokémon is here.

[ She pauses for a moment. ]

Of course, when I say that my starter was more eager, I really mean it. He started pouncing on every wild pokémon he saw. If he wasn't in his ball, chances were every encounter we had was because he went up and jumped on it instead of us being attacked.

[ That puts things in another perspective and makes her consider the other possibility that hers might be the same way. With her inexperience, she hopes to avoid that for now, but she knows she can't avoid putting her partner outside of fights. ]

Did he grow out of it?

... Kinda?

I mean, he still likes to battle, but he's gotten strong enough that wild pokémon no longer give him any challenge. So he doesn't do it anymore.

It sounded like he needed more discipline. The rest of your team?

[ Giving a pointed look. The girl seemed too soft. ]

Yeah. Probably. I wasn't really intending on going into battles here until things happened though.

[ She sighed. ]

My Raichu has a similar personality to my Umbreon, but the rest of them are really well behaved.

I see.

[ Give her a moment. She's going to stand from her sitting position and look around her area. She turns back to the feed after her survey. ]

I should journey ahead. My... partner seems to be getting restless. [ The gashing sounds are getting a bit louder. ]

Okay. You might want to look into travelling with someone else who just got here though. It's better not to be alone in case something happens out there.

[ She pauses for a moment. ]

Anyway, before you go, my name's Hikari. It's nice to meet you.

[ She considers the advice, but. She's going to take precautions for now. And by precautions, she means trust issues.

She gives a nod. ]

And you. My name is Mikasa Ackerman.

Well, good luck Mikasa-san.

If you head west from New Bark, it should take you about three days or so to get to Cherrygrove City. It's a bigger town, though it's still not as big as some of the other places here.

[ She gives another nod of gratefulness at the extra information. ]

Thank you, Hikari. I'll talk to you again if something comes up.

[ And then she promptly cuts the feed. ]

[Video]

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